Refrigerator cabinet



Nov; 13, 1934. A. L. LAMBERT 1,980,807

REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed Oct. 11, 1952 s Shets-$heet 1 gwuan co'a Nov.13, 1934.

A. L. LAMBERT REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed Oc b. 11., 1932 s Sheets-Sheet2 3* Elberflfiamberlj Nov. 13, 1934. AM I 1,980,807

REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed oct; 11, 932 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Jwwntw 4 WAlberfLZamerlj Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNETED STATES 1,980,807REFRIGERATOR CABINET Albert L. Lambert, Narberth, Pa., assignor toHeintz Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationOctober 11,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cabinets and involves animprovement in the construction of such cabinets whereby the top openingmay be variously subdivided by removable partitions in order thatvarious parts of the structure may be standardized in manufacture andinterchanged, after the cabinet has been put into use, in accordancewith the desires of the user.

More particularly, the improvement has to do with refrigerator cabinetsthat are designed and adapted to hold containers for ice cream andsimilar products in locations where such products may be readilyavailable for dispensing therefrom. As disclosed herein the improvementsare incorporated in a cabinet structure the contents of which arerefrigerated by means of dry ice, although the improvements are equallyapplicable to cabinet structures in which other means and methods ofrefrigeration are employed.

In view of the demands in this particular trade it is necessary for themanufacturer of ice cream cabinets to supply a variety of forms andshapes of cabinets. With the constructions heretofore employed thesevarious forms and shapes of cabinets have necessitated special andindividual construction, thus making it impossible for the user of thecabinet to make any alteration or rearrangement of the top openings. Inthe different forms and shapes of cabinets heretofore made for thisgeneral purpose it is necessary to sub-divide the open top of thecabinet by means of partitions for the purpose of providing a separateopening for each ice cream container, also a separate opening throughwhich the cabinet may be serviced with dry ice when dry ice is utilizedas the refrigerant. One of the objects of this invention is to soconstruct such an ice cream cabinet that the partitions which areutilized for sub-dividing the top opening may be easily and quicklymounted within the opening. A'further object of the invention is theprovision of improved partitions which are easily removable from thecabinet opening after being mounted therein. A still further object ofthe invention is the provision of improved partitions which are readilyinterchangeable in the top opening of the cabinet. A still furtherobject of the invention is the provision of improved means securedwithin the cabinet opening for supporting the ends of the partitions insuch a manner that the partitions may be readily removed andinterchanged. It is a still further object of the invention to providean improved construction in the top wall of the refrigerator cabinet,particularly that portion of the wall immediately surrounding the top1932, Serial No. 637,232

opening. Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedpartition for sub-dividing the top opening of an ice cream cabinet.Still other objects of the invention will be apparent from thedisclosure herein contained.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, reference may bemade'to the ac-. companying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of an ice cream cabinet withthe improvements embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a detailed vertical sectional view showing the structure ofthe top wall of thecabinet and the mannerin which thepartitions areremovably supported thereby; 1 V

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing one of thetransverse partitions;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one of thelongitudinal partitions;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the interchangeable stirrups forsupporting-the ends of the partitions; I

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view showing the manner in which the endsof the longitudinal the manner in which the lining for the opening andthe seal surrounding the opening in position;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cabinet shown inFig. 1, taken 'on the line Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough the cabinet shown in Fig. 1, showing, in dotted; lines, themanner in which the partition supporting means may be; interchanged;

Fig. 10 is a planview'of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1, with the closureelements removed and the partitions located as shown by the dotted lineposition in Fig. 9; and Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are plan views, with theclosure elements removed, showing {different forms of cabinets with theimprovements incon porated therein.

The cabinet to which the-improvement described herein h-as been adaptedcomprises inner and outer shells 20 and 21, preferably formed fromrust-resistant metal, spaced apart to reare secured ceive a suitablethickness of heat insulating material, preferably utilized in the formof slabs or layers of corkboard or any other well-known material adaptedfor this purpose, as shown at 22, 23 and 24. The upper edge of the'inner metallic shell is preferably bent outwardly at to rest upon theupper edge of the innermost layer 24 of insulating material, and is thenbent upwardly and folded backwardly upon itself as shown at 26 in orderthat the upper .edge of the inner shell may be suitably reinforced for apurpose hereinafter described. A horizontally arranged framework 28preferably extends substantially across the upper edges of the layers ofinsulating material 22, 23 and 27. Preferably this framework is made ofwood, although other suitable material may be utilized so long as it issufficiently substantial and of a character to retain the'screws bymeans of which the various parts of the cabinet structure are heldtogether.

'A lining 29 is secured to the top framework and entirely surrounds theopening 30 in the top of the cabinet. Preferably this lining is made ofmoisture-proof, heat insulating material. At its upper edge it issecured to the wooden framework 28' forming the'top of the cabinet bymeans of screws- 31,'while itslower edge is secured in position byscrews 32 passing through suitable openings therein into the reinforcedupper edge of the inner shell 20.

An outer metallic shell 33 maybe provided for-the vertical walls of thecabinet. This outer shell being largely for purposes of ornamentation,it may be enameled or finished in any manner that may be desired. -Theupper edge of this I outer shell is preferably turned inwardly to prolthe upper'edges ofthe facing strips.

vide a flange 34 which rests upon the upper outer edge of the topframework 28. A metallic coverstrip 35' may also be provided for theupper framework 28. wise be enameled or ornamented similarly to theouter vertical shell 33. Preferably the inner edge of the cover strip'35is turned downwardly at 36 into "engagement with the inner edge of theframework 28, and the outer edge may be turned downwardly as shown at3'7 along the outer vertical shell for the purpose of giving a finishedappearance to the construction. It will be'understoodthat 'this'coverstrip will be suitably secured to the upper framework in any manner thatmay be desired.

Forthe purposeof providing a seal around the top opening 30 of thecabinet a strip 38 of rubber or other suitable resilient, insulatingmaterial is secured between the upper outer face of the lining 29 andthe inner edge of the hori-- The improved transverse partition members40 and longitudinal partition members 41 comprise a wooden core 42having a strip 43 of l moisture-proof "heat insulating material securedto each face thereof. The upper edges of each of these facing strips 43extend a short distance above the upper edge of the wooden core 42 toprovide an open-topped channel 44 throughout the length of eachpartition member. A sealing strip 45 of rubber or other suitableresilient, insulating-material is inserted in this channel and extendsslightly above the upper edges of the facing strips 43. 1 Preferably theupper edge'of' this rubber sealing strip 45 is provided with a headerbead-like portion 46 which overlies The facing This cover strip maylike-- strips are preferably secured to the wooden core by means ofbolts 47 provided with ferruled nuts 48, both the bolts and nuts beingprovided with slotted heads and beveled so as to be counter-- sunk inthe facing strips when the parts of the partition members are assembled.By the use of bolts of this type the parts of the partition members maybe easily and quickly assembled without requiring the use of any toolsother than an ordinary screwdriver. The ends of the sealing strips 45are suitably undercut or otherwise shaped as shown at 49 to conferm tothe bead 39 on the sealing strip 38, ,as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, andthe ends of the sealing strips in the longitudinal partitions 41 arelikewise so shaped as to conformto the sealing strips inthe transversepartitions or the sealing strip surrounding the top opening.v

The improved means forsupporting the ends of the partition members inthe top opening 30 of the'cabinet comprise channel-shaped metallicmembers 50 the lower ends of which are bent at right angles to the bodyportion thereof, the right angularly bent portion 51 serving as asupport .for the ends of i the partition members when in place in thecabinet opening. The partition retaining members or stirrups 50 are suitably secured to any convenient portion of the cabinet about the opening30, and are Preferably secured to a composite supporting membercomprising the framework 28 and lining 29 by means of the screws 31which secure the lining 29 to this framework, also by the screws 32which secure, the lower edge of the lining to the inner shell 20, andare arranged along the sides of the top opening, 30 to space thetransverse partitions 40 so that the ice cream containers 52 may bereadily inserted in the cabinet and removed therefrom between thepartition members. longitudinal partitions 41 are mounted in stirrups 50secured to the upper framework of the.

thereto by means-of the bolts 47 and ferruled nuts 48 heretoforedescribed. The particular arrangement of the partitions will depend of.course upon the desired arrangement ofv the ice cream containers 52 andthe dry ice bunker 53 in the cabinet. As shown in Figs. 1 and 8 of thedrawings, the partitions are so. arranged that two containers arelocated adjacent each end of the. cabinet with the ice bunker in themiddle. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10. however, the transverse partitionsmay readily be rear" ranged so that the bunker is adjacent one end ofthe cabinet, and this rearrangement may be effected by the use of thesame partspartition members 40 and 41, stirrups 50 and closure members54 and 55-as are utilized in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 8;

' Figrll of the, drawings shows a cabinet wherein the dry ice bunker isarranged transversely in the middle of the cabinet with such anarran'gement of partition members as to accommodate four ice cream.containers on each side thereof. With the improvement desorlbedherein itwill be readily understood that the partitions maybe rearranged so as tolocate the ice bunker adjacent either end of thecabinet.

Fig. 12 discloses a form of cabinet in which the dry ice bunker isarranged transversely in the middle of the cabinet with an arrangementfor two ice cream containers on each side of The the bunker. With theimprovement described herein it will'be clear that the partitions inthis form of cabinet may readily. be interchanged so as to locate theice bunker adjacent'either 'end of the cabinet.

Fig. l3'discloses a form of'cabinet adapted to hold two ice creamcontainers, thearrangement being such that the dry ice bunker extendstransversely in the middle'of the'cabinet with a container adjacent eachend. The partitions in this form of cabinet may'likewise be interchangedso as to locate the bunker adjacent either end 'as may be desired.

With the improved cabinet structure disclosed herein it will be clearthat the top opening of the cabinet may easily besub-divided byinterchanging the partition members in order to produce an arrangementwherein the contents of the cabinet, such as the ice cream containersshown herein, are in the most suitable location desired by the user ofthe cabinet. In event the user of the cabinet, for convenience orotherwise, desires to rearrange the contents of the cabinet, this may beeasily and quickly done by merely removing the partitions from thestirrups, removing the screws which hold the stirrups in place, andrelocating the stirrups so as to position the partitions as desired,then replacing the partitions.

It will also be noted that the structure of the cabinet top with thesealing strips embodied therein, and the structure of the partitionmembers having the sealing strips therein, are such that the edges ofthe closure members for the individual openings rest upon the sealingstrips when the partition members are in place. The constructionprovides a cabinet in which standardized parts may be utilized for thepartition members thus obviating the need for the manufacturer toprovide an unnecessary number of parts, and making it comparativelysimple for the user of the cabinet to rearrange the ice cream containersand ice bunker in the particular cabinet which he may be utilizing.

In addition to the above advantages, the construction of the improvedpartition members is such that these members may be easily and quicklydisassembled for repair purposes. By merely removing the bolts 47 andthe ferruled nuts 48 the facing strips 43 are readily separable from thestiffening member or core 42 whereupon either of these parts, or thesealing strip 45, may be replaced as required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet having an opening in the top thereof, asupporting member surrounding said opening, a pair of stirrups removablysecured to said supporting member for adjustment into differentpositions on opposite sides of said opening, and a partition extendingacross said opening and having its ends in removable engagement withsaid stirrups.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet having an opening in the top thereof, asupporting member surrounding said opening and forming a part of thecabinet structure, a pair of stirrups removably secured to saidsupporting member for adjustment into different positions on oppositesides of said opening, and a partition extending across said opening andhaving its ends in removable engagement with said stirrups.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet having an opening in the top thereof, asupporting member surrounding said opening and forming a part of thecabinet structure, interchangeable stirrups re- "'movabiysecurd to saidsupaortmgnnber on opposite sides of s'aidopenin'g, and interchangeablepartitions'extending across'said opening and having their ends inremovable engagement with 3 said'stirrups. 1

4. In arefrige'ra'tor cabinet having an opening in'the top' thereof,'acomposite supporting member surrounding saidopening and forming a partof "the cabinetstruc'ture, interchangeable parti- 'tionsextehdingfac'r'oss said'op'eni'ng, interchangeable means for removably:receiving the ends of said partitions, and means for securing said.composite supporting 'me'r'nber-tog'ether and for l'securing saidinterchangeable means thereto.

'5. :In'a', refrigerator cabinet having, an'elongate'drectangular-sperms in the'top thereof, "a supporting member surroundingsaid opening and forming a part of the cabinet structure,interchangeable transverse partitions extending across receiving theends of said transverse partitions,

a longitudinal partition extending between one of said transversepartitions and said supporting member, and interchangeable meansremovably secured to said transverse partition and said supportingmember for removably receiving the ends l.

of said longitudinal partition.

7. In a refrigerator cabinet having an elongated rectangular opening inthe top thereof, a

its

supporting member surrounding said opening and forming a part of thecabinet structure, interchangeable transverse partitions extendingacross said opening, interchangeable means removably secured to saidsupporting member for removably receiving the ends of said transverseparti tions, a longitudinal partition extending between said transversepartitions and said supporting member, and interchangeable meansremovably secured to said transverse partitions and said supportingmember for removably receiving the 7 ends of said longitudinalpartitions.

8. In a refrigerator cabinet having an opening in the top thereof, asupporting member surrounding said opening and forming a part of thecabinet structure, and partition supporting means secured to saidsupporting member, comprising interchangeable channel-shaped members forremovably receiving the ends of the partitions and having their lowerends bent inwardly for engagement with the lower edges of thepartitions.

9. In a partition for the opening in .the top of a refrigerator cabinet,a rigid core of heat insulating material, facing strips of rigid,moistureproof, heat insulating material secured to the opposite faces ofsaid core and projecting beyond one of the edges thereof to provide anopentopped channel extending lengthwise of one edge of the partition,and a strip of resilient heat insulating material secured in saidchannel and having a bead thereon overlying the edges of said a (Ifacing strips.

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10. In a refrigerator cabinet having an opening in the top thereof, asupporting member surrounding said opening and forming a part of thecabinet structure, asealing gasket secured to said supporting member andprojecting thereabove around said opening, interchangeable partitionsremovably supported across said opening to subdivide the same into aplurality of smaller openings, each of said partitions having a sealinggasket embodied therein and projecting thereabove into alinement andcontact with the sealing gasket secured to said supporting member, andclosure means for said smaller openings, provided with edge portionscontacting with said gaskets.

11. In a refrigerator cabinet having an opening in the top thereof, asupporting member surrounding said opening and forming a part of thecabinet structurea moisture-proof lining of heat insulating materialsecured within said opening to said supporting member, a sealing gasketsecured between said lining and said supporting member andl projectingthereabove around said opening, interchangeable partitions removablysupported across said opening to sub-divide the same into a plurality ofsmaller openings, each of said partitions having a sealing gasketembodied therein and pro-6:85

also

